Israel (MNN) – Much of Israel has been turned to rubble in the aftermath of warfare and missile strikes. The people who live there have had their homes and communities decimated. In a land rich with culture and history, the future looks uncertain.
As the world watches headlines, Life In Messiah is on the ground. They have their own legacy – they’ve been showing Jesus’ mercy to the Jewish people for over a century. That means they’re in a position to help communities they’ve already poured into for generations.
According to Levi Hazen, Life In Messiah’s current active projects include:
- A soup kitchen in Tel Aviv that serves “those who have been caught up in the world of drug addiction and sex trafficking, so that these folks can not only come inside and get a hot meal, maybe a shower, but of course, they’re going to hear the good news while they’re there.”
- Men’s and women’s rehab centers for those battling addiction. They host daily Bible studies, and “each one of these places is connected to a local congregation where people can continue to hear the gospel and fellowship and meet believers.”
- A recovery house for Russian-speaking men battling addictions to drugs or alcohol. “When people think of the Holy Land, they don’t oftentimes think that those things would be happening, but it absolutely happens, just as it does in every society,” Hazen says.
- Churches led by congregational leaders from Life In Messiah’s staff “leading churches that are full of Jewish people and Gentiles who believe in Yeshua.”
- Media ministries, including the Tov Podcast. “Tov is the Hebrew word for good, and that podcast is focused on yes, sharing the good news, but also biblical teaching concerning God’s heart for Israel and the Jewish people.” Life in Messiah also has a YouTube channel and an evangelistic website.
Life in Messiah has always faced an uphill battle. There is history between the Jewish and Christian communities, and that history is filled with bloodshed. “Things like the Crusades, the “Christ-killer” charge, blood libels, even in recent times, during the Holocaust when the majority of Christians chose to do nothing despite the drastic rise in anti-semitism – our Jewish friends are very much aware of those things,” Hazen says. “So there’s already a further barrier that is present that we don’t see amongst other groups.”
Jewish theology presents an obstacle, too. “There’s a common belief that Jesus is not the Messiah, he’s a man. He’s maybe the God of the Gentiles, but not for you, not for Jewish people. We have to overcome that hurdle as well.”
And of course, the challenges that come with constant conflict are devastating in their own right. But in the middle of cultural, political, religious, and even physical suffering, Life In Messiah is watching God open doors.
“When people are hurting, they tend to be more open to having conversations about things that otherwise they may not have thought about,” Hazen says. “Our staff are reporting more conversations with Jewish people, yes, in Israel, but around the globe – more than we ever have before, because Jewish people are realizing that there’s a lot of evangelicals who truly love them and desire the best for them, desire their safety and protection.”
If you want to support hurting civilians and refugees in Israel, you can contribute to a relief fund right here. Whether you provide financial support or not, please pray.
“God is faithful, even if we are faithless,” Hazen says.
Header photo courtesy of Unsplash.
